The Averill Park High School choir will join rock band Foreigner on stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on August 23, the Times Union reported. The students secured this opportunity by winning Foreigner’s “Sing on Stage” Choir Contest, beating out other local middle and high school ensembles that submitted video performances.
During the band’s “Double Trouble Double Vision Tour,” the choir will perform the chorus of “I Want to Know What Love Is.” Choir director Leslie Eliashuk told the Times Union that her students learned the song and accompanying choreography within two class periods, demonstrating exceptional musicianship. Eliashuk, who previously led a different school group in a similar performance with the band a decade ago, expressed confidence in her students’ ability to adapt during a brief on-site rehearsal.
In addition to the performance experience, the win includes a $500 donation for the school’s music program. Eliashuk plans to use these funds to support student participation in future events, specifically aiding lower-income students who might otherwise face financial barriers. She noted to the Times Union that the contest highlights how professional musicians remember their roots in school music education.
For more information, visit timesunion.com.